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(No Model.) v N P. B. CUNNINGHAM & BARNES.

PLATFORM GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

W/TNESSES.

Nv PETERS. Phoio'Lithcgnphur, Wahirlglun. D. Q

llNITEn TATES PATENT @rrrcn.

PETER B. CUNNINGHAM AND AVON BARNES, OF ALLENTOVVN, BA.

PLATFORM-GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

EIPECZFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,688, dated December 1, 1885.

Application filed July 11 1885. Serial No. 171,266.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, PETER B. CUNNING- HAM and Avon BARNES, both citizens of the United States, residing at Allentown, in the county of Lehigh, State of Pennsylvania, have invented anew and useful Improvement in PlatformGe-ar for- Vehicles, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a plan View of a platform-gear for vehicles embodying our invention. Fig. 2 represents a front view thereof. Fig. 3 represents a plan view of another form thereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Our invention consists of the provision of a platform-gear for vehicles with braces and a cross beam or bar, whereby great strength and durability are attained, as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a central beam, to which is connected the rear spring-block, B, and (1 represents a cross beam or bar, which is secured to the under side of the beam A. The beams A C are preferably made of wood.

D represents a bar of metal, which is con.

nected with the spring block B and bent around the ends thereof and continued forwardly along the beam A and joined to the front blocks, E. To the blocks E are also connected the metallic bars E, which extend to the beam A and are firmly secured thereto and have their rear ends bent laterally, as at F, and joined to the bars D, it being noticed that the bars D are set out from the beam A and rest on the beam 0, and the bends F are interposed between said bars and beam.

G represents braces, which are passed through the front ends of the bars D F and blocks E, and secured thereto, then rearward through books or eyes H on the under side of the crossbeani G, and finally through the spring-block B and rear portion of the bar D and secured thereto.

The fiftlrwheel J is connected with the cen tral beam, A, and also to the ends of the crossbeam 0, and extends over the bars D.

(No model.)

In Fig. 1 the gear is shown with shaftshackles a, and in Fig. 2 with both shaftshackles and a pole-socket, b. In the latter case portions of the bars F form the sides of the socket.

It will be seen that owing to the bends F the bars D are firmly connected with the central beam, A, and the sides of the gear accord ingly stiffened. Owing to the cross'beam O and braces G, a truss is produced, which also adds great strength to the gear, and the same, in connection with other parts of the gear, forms astrong and durable device for the purpose intended.

Having thus described our invention, What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Let-- ters Patent, is-

1. A central beam, A, in combination with side bars D and braces F F, the side bars being each formed of a single bent piece of material, and the said brace-bars F being se cured at one end thereof to the said bars D, about midway of their sides, and the said side bars F being secured to the bars D at the ends of the latter, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A central beam and a cross-beam, in

combination with the bars D, the bars F,with

bends F, and the braces G, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The central beam, A, the bars D, and front blocks, E, and rear block, B, in combination with the bars F, which are secured to said beam and have their rear ends bent laterally and connected with the bars D, substantially as described.

4. The central beam, A, the bars D, front blocks, E, and rear block, B, and bars F, with bends F, in combination with the cross-beam G and braces G, said cross-beam being secured to the central beam and said braces being connected with said cross-beam and the front and rear of the gear, substantially as described.

PETER B. CUNNINGHAM. AVON BARNES.

Witnesses:

F. B. ALBRIGHT, EDWARD Bonn. 

